Craig Borland

A Bute resident who played a leading role in a successful campaign against a planned fish farm development near the island six years ago says she’s worried at the prospect of a fresh fight.

Christine McArthur was the secretary of the Stop The Inchmarnock Fish Farm (STIFF) campaign group, which succeeded in persuading both the council and the Scottish Government to reject proposals for a development off Bute’s west coast in 2009.

Mrs McArthur spoke to The Buteman after attending an ‘information event’ hosted by the Scottish Salmon Company, which is assessing the potential for fish farm developments at two sites near Bute - north of St Ninian’s Bay, near the Ardroscadale shore, and at White Port, between Kilchattan Bay and Glencallum Bay.

“It’s really disappointing,” Mrs McArthur said of the SSC’s intentions.

“I told them we would be objecting, but there’s big money in fish farming and I worry that they could trample all over us.”

* Read more from Mrs McArthur in the June 12 edition of The Buteman - on sale now.